 Is it safe to travel in Turkey? |  Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel, and its crime rate is low in comparison to many Western European countries.
The hospitality of the Turks is legendary. Deliquency and violent street crime, all too frequently encountered in more Western cultures, are infrequently encountered here (although you should take the normal precautions as you would in your home country - keep your passport with you at all times). You will certainly be safer walking around the magnificent sites of Turkey than in Paris, London or Rome ! |
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Money matters |  The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL).
Rates for foreign currency are always better in Turkey so don't bother buying TL at home before you leave. Travellers' cheques are not worth the bother and are expensive. There is a widespread network of ATM machines in Turkey even in surprisingly small places and hard currency (euros or dollars) are also accepted for payments in cash.
Check with your bank and/or credit card company before you leave home as to what is your daily withdrawal or spending limit on your card.
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Travelling with children | | Turkish people adore children and travelling with your children in Turkey will be a relaxing and pleasant experience as Turkish people rush to give you red-carpet treatment. Baby cots or extra beds in hotels are always available and you don't have to go far to find a child-friendly restaurant - they all are ! |
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Disabled travellers |  Turkey is working hard to develop facilities accessible to those with reduced mobility but some archeological and natural sites are difficult to access. But you can still find wheelchair-friendly hotels and travel agencies who can adapt your tour to your special needs.
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Religion |  Turkey has a nominally majority population of Muslims but since 1923 is a Secular Republic. The moderate Turkish Islamic culture is to be seen in the tolerance of the people - for example during the month of Ramadan you will have no problem finding a restaurant or bar open except in outlying rural areas. This is not a Middle Eastern country and Turks and tourists mingle freely in bars and restaurants serving alcohol.
The Turkish Republic was created by Mustafa Kemal - known as Ataturk - an amazing man who introduced a broad span of ambitious and swift reforms to create what is modern Turkey today. For example the right to vote for women was introduced in Turkey many years before most Western European countries.
Ataturk died in 1938 but is still revered today throughout Turkey - you will see his photo in shops, hotels, businesses - irreverent remarks about Ataturk or the Turkish flag are not appreciated.
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Dress code | Turkey is a wonderfully heterogeneous country - you will see women wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf walking arm in arm with their friends who are dressed in smart casual European style. In coastal tourist areas you will see all sorts of dress styles but we advise you to confine the wearing of beachwear to the beach.
If you want to visit mosques pack a scarf or shawl to cover your head and men and women alike should avoid wearing shorts out of respect for religion.
Think about the weather too - in summer Cappadocian nights can be cold and you might want to take a light sweater. Stout shoes are a must if you want to go rambling.
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Driving in Turkey |  In Turkey like most of Europe we drive on the right. The Turkish infrastructure is excellent but Turkish drivers are not very disciplined and in rural areas you will share the road with tractors, donkeys and herds of sheep. Driving in Istanbul can be as scary as driving in Paris ! As everywhere drive carefully and stop regularly - motorway facilities are extensive and top-class.
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Turkish language | Turkish is a language of the Ural-Altaic family and will seem very unfamiliar to many travellers. Don't worry - throughout Turkey and especially in areas much visited by tourists, Turks speak many European and non-European languages. However everybody always appreciates it if can say hello (merhaba) or thank you (pronounce "teshekur ederim").
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| What time is it in Turkey? | | The time in Istanbul is GMT+2, i.e., two hours ahead of London and seven hours ahead of New York. Thus if it is 9:00 am in New York, it is already 4:00 pm in Istanbul. |
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Turkish hospitality |  Turkey is renowned for its hospitality which is an ancient tradition - this is genuine and widespread. You will be invited to drink endless glasses of tea or sometimes to share a meal. Turkish people are friendly, curious and generally go out of their way to help or offer advice - even when you haven't asked for it ! |
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